EP1457938A1

EP1457938A1 - Group of combinational displays for recreational machines

Info

Publication number: EP1457938A1
Application number: EP02732783A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joaquin Franco Munoz; Jesus Franco Munoz
Original assignee: Proindumar SL
Current assignee: Proindumar SL
Priority date: 2001-12-21
Filing date: 2002-05-30
Publication date: 2004-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-30
Also published as: US20050104285A1; ES2189690B1; ATE343831T1; EP1457938B1; AU2002304597A1; BR0215347A; WO2003054818A1; MXPA04005920A; DE60215696D1; ES2189690A1

Abstract

As from a determined number of displays (1), (1'), (1''), three for example, through each one of which three figures (2) can be seen that are susceptible to forming various horizontal and diagonal winning lines (5), said displays additionally incorporate numerical displays (3) coinciding in position and quantitatively with said visible figures (2), but stationary, which are operative or not depending on whether or not they are lit and depending on the number they indicate at all times, these numerical displays (3) can be used for obtaining eight other winning lines (6), three horizontal ones, three vertical ones and two diagonal ones, and simultaneously used as "advance" meters that are indicative of the changes that can be made in the figures and numbers shown through the displays. Furthermore, each display (1), (1'), (1'') incorporates an obturator cover (4), which permits hiding one or two of the figures and corresponding numerical displays of the also corresponding display, for validating, varying, restricting or amplifying the extension or value of a play.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a group of displays of those used in recreational machines which give cash prizes to the player, displays that, based on providing changing images, permit establishing different combinations among the figures of the different displays that are susceptible to the prize in accordance with a duly pre-established winning plan.
The object of the invention is to provide said group of displays with a series of services that are complementary to the conventional and previously mentioned services, allowing for a considerable enhancement of the game capacity of this type of machine, occupying a minimum space on the screen thereof, providing said displays with a multifunctional character.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of recreational machines giving the player cash prizes, for obtaining plays, a series of displays or rollers are used, each one bearing a plurality of figures or images generally established on a continuous band, such that said figures cyclically appear in the corresponding display for the player to directly see them, three displays being the conventional number participating in the combination, and three figures also which can simultaneously be seen in each display through the corresponding window.
In the beginning, these machines exclusively offered the player one prize option through a winning line determined by the figures occupying the intermediate position in said displays.
As time has elapsed and given that it was necessary to maintain the players' interest, the use of more versatile games became necessary, linking secondary games and creating alternative game levels, all within the same play. In this sense, the system of "advances" emerged which permitted modifying the position of the figures in some of said displays, and auxiliary games were also incorporated into the machine, which on many occasions require a group of complementary displays. All these additions have given way to the need for more space in the front parts of the machines, negatively affecting the volume thereof, not always being possible to assemble due to the material lack of space, at times constricting or limiting new games which involve alternating or making other options simultaneous.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The group of displays proposed by the invention has been designed and structured so as to permit a wide variety of game systems, duly solving the problems of space, duplication of mechanisms and the previously mentioned versatility, specifically permitting in only one space, that which corresponds to only one group of displays or rollers, the establishment of a wide range of alternatives or game possibilities that are complementary to the basic game.
To do so, and more specifically as from the basic structure of a conventional group of displays, wherein, for example, three displays or rollers of any conventional type participate that are each capable of simultaneously showing three figures, the invention is centered on the fact that each one of said displays additionally incorporates three numerical displays, positioned in accordance with the three aforementioned figures, such that independently from the combinations to obtain with said figures, specifically three horizontal alignments and two diagonal alignments, it is possible to obtain, due to said numerical displays, three other horizontal combinations, three vertical ones and two diagonal ones, which are completely independent from those obtained based on the figures and which can be used for different types of complementary games.
These alphanumerical displays can also be used as meters, for example meters of the number of "advances" the machine offers the player in one play, for validating a combination, for identifying double or simple plays, etc.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, it has also been foreseen that each display is aided by an obturator cover, which permits, in addition to visualizing the three figures in each display, hiding one or two of them, which in turn implies another wide range of possibilities in the development of the game by being able to more or less restrict the images that can be seen through the group of displays.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment example thereof, a set of drawings accompanies said description as an integral part thereof which, with an illustrative and non-limiting character, show the following:
Figure 1.- Shows a front elevational schematic view of a group of combining displays for recreational machines carried out with the object of the present invention, wherein part of their figures are hidden by respective obturator covers, specifically in two of them.
Figure 2.- Shows a view similar to that in the previous figure, but wherein the obturator covers are completely withdrawn, permitting total visualization of the displays.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the mentioned figures, a group of three displays has been shown, as this is the most frequently used number in practice, but obviously said number may vary without it affecting the scope of the invention.
In any case, said displays (1), (1'), (1'') are provided with, as is conventional, respective groups of figures or images (2) that can cyclically appear before the observer through the windows of said displays (1), preferably three, as can especially be seen in figure (2).
From this basic structure and in accordance with the invention, each display (1), (1'), (1'') additionally incorporates three alphanumerical displays (3), positioned in correspondence with the three figures (2) that are visible in each display (1), these displays (3) being stationary and non-operative depending on whether they are lit or not and, logically, depending on the number they express at all times.
Lastly, each display additionally incorporates an obturator cover (4) capable of permitting visualization of the three figures (2) of the corresponding display (1), (1'), (1''), hiding one of said figures or hiding two of them, as can be seen in figure 1.
According to this structure and from a single group of displays, the possibilities of the development of the game are significantly increased.
Some of these possibilities specifically include the following:

A game base operating with the figures (2), wherein five winning lines can be established, as is conventional, those referenced with (5), specifically three horizontal ones and two diagonal ones.
Eight winning lines based on the numerical displays (3), those referenced with (6), specifically three horizontal ones, three vertical ones and two diagonal ones.
The cancellation of one or some of said winning lines (5) and (6) by means of using the obturator covers (4), hiding a figure (2) and a display (3) of any one of the displays (1), (1'), (1''), or two figures and two displays.
Any of the displays (3) can be used as an "advance" meter for the corresponding display (1) or for any of the displays (1), (1'), (1").

The obturator covers permit validating, varying, restricting or amplifying the extension or value of a play.

Claims

Group of combining displays for recreational machines, of the type which each display incorporates a plurality of figures that are sequentially visible through the window of the display, which at the end of each play determine, with the figures from the rest of the displays, combinations that are susceptible to a prize, characterized in that each one of said displays (1), (1'), (1'') additionally incorporates numerical displays (3) preferably coinciding in position and quantitatively with the figures (2) that are visible in each display (1), (1'), (1'') and which are functionally independent from each display and from each other.
Group of combining displays for recreational machines according to claim 1, characterized in that said numerical displays (3) are operative depending on whether they are lit or not and, in the case of being lit, depending on the variable number they indicate.
Group of combining displays for recreational machines according to previous claims, characterized in that in addition to the winning lines (5) established by the figures (2), specifically three horizontal ones and two diagonal ones, the numerical displays (3) are susceptible to establishing eight other winning lines (6), three horizontal ones, three vertical ones and two diagonal ones.
Group of combining displays for recreational machines according to previous claims, characterized in that any of the numerical displays (3) acts in parallel as an "advance" meter for modifying the combinations of any of the aforementioned winning lines (5) and (6).
Group of combining displays for recreational machines according to previous claims, characterized in that each display (1), (1'), (1'') additionally incorporates an obturator cover (4) which permits hiding one or two of the figures (2) located in the window of the displays, as well as the corresponding numerical displays (3).